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Augustus Buchanan “Gus” Purcell

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Birth	:	25 Nov 1923 Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA
Death	:	25 Mar 2011 Scotland County, North Carolina, USA
Burial	:	Hillside Cemetery, Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate	:	34.7844009, -79.4625015
Description	:	Gus Purcell To watch Myers Park High's football teams play offense in the 1950s and '60s was to catch a glimpse of the sport's future. The creator of those innovative and wide-open Mustangs attacks - which featured pro-style and spread formations, shotgun snaps, double-reverses and lots of flea flickers that were unheard of on the high school level then - was coach Gus Purcell. "He was such a forward thinker," said Jeff Beaver, executive director of the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission and one of several Mustangs quarterbacks Purcell sent to play college football. "He was way ahead of his time." Purcell died... Read More	Gus Purcell To watch Myers Park High's football teams play offense in the 1950s and '60s was to catch a glimpse of the sport's future. The creator of those innovative and wide-open Mustangs attacks - which featured pro-style and spread formations, shotgun snaps, double-reverses and lots of flea flickers that were unheard of on the high school level then - was coach Gus Purcell. "He was such a forward thinker," said Jeff Beaver, executive director of the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission and one of several Mustangs quarterbacks Purcell sent to play college football. "He was way ahead of his time." Purcell died Friday in his hometown of Laurinburg. He was 87. Purcell began coaching at Myers Park in 1952, before the forward pass was in vogue. As the tactic grew in popularity in the pros, Purcell sought to bring it to Myers Park. Purcell would spend Sunday afternoons studying either the Washington Redskins or Baltimore Colts on television. He would diagram their offensive plays and install versions of them in his Mustangs' playbook on Monday. "He had real creativity," said Charlotte attorney Ray Farris, another former Mustangs quarterback. "He studied incessantly, even going to Baltimore to see what they were doing. Even the scouting reports he had for us were as good or better than college scouting reports." Purcell grew up in Laurinburg and was a backup running back behind Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice at North Carolina from 1946-49. It was there that he met his wife Bonnie, who was a majorette. Gus and Bonnie would raise three children - Lucy, Gary and Jimmy - after they came to Charlotte. Purcell's Mustangs teams were 209-75-15. He coached in the 1960 Shrine Bowl and the East-West All-Star game in 1959. He was inducted into the N.C. High School Hall of Fame in 1995. After Purcell retired from coaching in 1971, he ran a successful quarterbacks camp in south Charlotte for several years. He also owned a barbecue restaurant and fish camp in Charlotte. In 2004, Purcell's former players held a reunion of sorts for him. Randy Short, a quarterback on Myers Park's unbeaten 1965 team, recalled then how Purcell wanted the Mustangs to play, and how that philosophy transcended football. "Coach would tell us, 'When we're on our own 2, 98 yards from the end zone, we don't run three downs and punt. I want you to think about scoring. Ninety-eight yards to go, by golly, we're getting ready to score.' "I think that's a good way to approach life," Short said. Arrangements Visitation for Gus Purcell will be held Monday evening - at a time to be determined - at McDougald Funeral Home, 305 E. Church St., Laurinburg. A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Church St., Laurinburg. son of Charles Augustus and Anna Meta Buchanan Purcell

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Augustus Buchanan “Gus” Purcell's memorial?
Augustus Buchanan “Gus” Purcell's memorial is located at: Hillside Cemetery, Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA.
When did Augustus Buchanan “Gus” Purcell death?
Augustus Buchanan “Gus” Purcell death on 25 Mar 2011 in Scotland County, North Carolina, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Augustus Buchanan “Gus” Purcell's memorial?
Latitude: 34.7844009
Longitude: -79.4625015

Family Members:

Parent

Charles Augustus Purcell

(1891 - 1983)

Anna Meta Buchanan Purcell

(1889 - 1981)

Spouse

Bonnie Thrash Purcell

(1927 - 2017)

Siblings

Charles Archibald “Archie” Purcell

(1921 - 2001)

Children

James Buchanan Purcell

(1954 - 2010)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Hillside Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7844009, -79.4625015

2. Hillside Memorial Park
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7894000, -79.4646000

3. Cedar Grove Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7817300, -79.4522100

4. Leach Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7921982, -79.4702988

5. Reedy Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7738914, -79.4630585

6. Matthews Chapel AME Zion Church Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7657040, -79.4775010

7. Stewart Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.8106003, -79.4458008

8. McNair Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7888985, -79.5141983

9. Covington Cemetery
East Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7619019, -79.4152985

10. Gibson Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7907982, -79.5186005

11. McFarland Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.8333015, -79.4681015

12. McCormick Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7454000, -79.5029700

13. Carmichael-McIntyre Cemetery
Stewartsville Township, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7352370, -79.4414480

14. Blue Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7524986, -79.5143967

15. Caledonia United Methodist Church Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7290916, -79.4603958

16. Malloy Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.8272018, -79.5077972

17. McKinnon Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7349600, -79.4994700

18. Sullivan Cemetery
East Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7550011, -79.4008026

19. Scottish Heritage Cemetery
East Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7548890, -79.4003390

20. Snead-Norton Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.8342018, -79.5017014

21. Gibson Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7825012, -79.5353012

22. Stewartsville Cemetery
Laurinburg, Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7380981, -79.4135971

23. Lytch Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.7458000, -79.5218964

24. Morgan Cemetery
Scotland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.8025017, -79.5350037